Automatic ingot feeder



Dec. 4 1923. 1,476,086

H. KRAUTBLATT AUTOMATIC INGOT FEEDER Filed April 11. 1931 4 Sheets-Shqet z H. KRAUTBLATT AUTOMATIC INGOT FEEDER Filed April 11. 1921 Dec; 4, 1923.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 .e. J/lIlIlIl/ll llI lv-li r: a

'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Dec. 4 1923.

1,476,086., H. KRAUTBLATT AUTOMATIC meow FEEDER Filed p l 11. 1921 4 Sheets-$11691, 4

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Fatented Dec. 4, 1923.

UN T D. STA f l Mass? HARRY KRAUTBLATT, or CHICAGO, ILLrnmsnssre-non or onn-rnrn-n To FRANK s. RUSSELL nnn onn rnrnn rostrum-IAN sns'rrin, BO'IE or enreeeo, ILLINOISQT AUEOMAIIC meow FEEDER,

Application filed April 11, .1921. Serial newesasvo.

To all whom it may concern.

. Be it known that I, HARRY KRAUTBLATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain'new and use- 'ful Improvements in'Automatic Ingot F eeders, of which the following is a description. My invention relates 'tofimprovements in ingot feeders and particularly to a devicewhich will automatically feed ingots to the metal pot of a linotype machine or the like. In such a machine the metal pot is kept heated to maintain the type metal in a molten state and'as the metal-is used up for casting the type it must'be replenished by hand as needed. In order to relieve the operator of the duty of constant vigilance required to keep the pot properly charged, and of manually feeding fresh ingots of metal to the pot I have provided automatic means which will add new ingot bars to the pot as often as is necessary, said means being controlled by float means governed by the level of the molten'metal in the pot.

I have sought to provide a device which is attractive, efiioient, convenient, and satisfactory for use wherever found applicable."

' Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described,

, will be obvious to those skilled in the from the disclosure herein given.

' To thisend my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularlylpointed out'inthe claims. i. 1

In the "drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts; Y V

Figure l'is a top plan view of my device as viewed from above;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially On the line 33 of Figure 1; 1 Figure lis a' section taken substantially on the line 4 1- of Figure 3;

Figure 5 isa bottom plan'view of my device with parts broken away;

Figure 6 is a section takensubstantially on the line 6 6 of Figure 1;

art

Figure Tie a section taken substantially on the line 7'7 of Figure 2 Figure 8 is ajseetion' taken substantially on the line 8 -8 of Figure 9;

Fed form of my device;

Among the other objects of' this invention,

Figure 9 is'a section taken substantially I on the line 9-9 'of Figure 8;

. Figure 10 is a section taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Figure 1; Figure 11 is a section taken substantially on the line 1111 of Figure l;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary section ofthe trough showing filler insert blocks in place for a different lengthof ingot bar; I Q Figure 13 is a top plan view of a modigigurele isa side elevation of the same; an r Figure 15 is a detail of the float-controlled operating arm therefor. v In thedrawings, wherein I have shown'a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 represents a'trough, preferably inclined so that the material placed thereon will be gravity actuated, and 2, represents the discharge end thereof, said discharge end preferably being detachably secured to said 'main section of the'trough. The sides 3 and 4 of the trough extend laterally of the bottom and may .be formed of angle-irons, as shown, or may be formed in any other'suitable or desired shape. Said discharge end 2 of the trough, as shown, is secured to the main section bymeans of a pair of locking arms 5, one at each side thereof and engageable with acooperating slot formed in the sides of the main trough section 1 at its end adjacent the discharge section. If desired,"

'a lateh 6 may be securcdto the discharge sec- 1310112, said latch being engageable with-a pin? on the main trough section 1* in order to more securely position the parts together to prevent accidental displacement'therebe tween, (see Figure 2).

An opening 8 is forined'in the discharge end 2, said opening having boundingwalls 9, one of which, as for instance 10, is inclined downwardiy and inwardly to the" bottom"- thereof. The discharge opening 8 IS'P'OSI".

tioned over the metal pot or crucible, 11,

of a linotype or the like machine, said crucible being adapted to contain molten metal therein, as for instance type metal. Adapted to be secured to the potll is an abutment part 12, which as shown, (see Figure 6)..is

comprised of a pa-ir of members adapted to be clamped together over the wall of the pot and to project thereabove, one of said members having its outer end bent angular of itself, as at 18, and having'arecess orfl'slot 14 formed at the angle thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

7 stationarypart of the by a plurality of supports section 1,

The trough is adapted to be secured to a linotype machine 16, said support-s being any suitable shape and securedto said parts in any suitable or desired manner;

The trough is adapted to receive a plurality or a series of ingot bars 17 thereon, said bars being slidable on the trough and movable downwardly thereon under the force of gravity. Near the bottom end of the trough (see Figures 5, G, and 7), is a pair of front stop members 18 and a rear stop member 19, sail members being vertically movable through apertures provided in the bottom wall of the trough. The lower end of each of said.

arms being rigidly secured to a rock shaft 22 journaled at its ends in lugs 23 depending from the sides of the trough. Y To one end of the rock shaft is secured a lever arm 24, the free end of said levertarm being pivotally connectedito a'link member 25, said link member being slidably connected at'its other respectively the slotted portion pot abutment member 12, so that when said by said abutment member "operate said stop members.

end to the end of a slide bar 27, said slide bar having an elongated slot or the like 26, provided therein. Said slide bar is slidably mounted in guides 28 depen dingfrom the sides of the trough so as to be capable of reciprocating movement in said guides. Each of the guides is adjustable in a vertical plane so that the slide bar may be raised :or lowered as desired. r

1 At theother end of the slide bar is arranged a book 29 adapted 14: of the reciprocatory hook is engaged the slide bar will be actuated thereby to The hook 29 is pivotally mounted at 30 inthe slide bar 27 and at its other'end there is arranged a weight 81, so that the hook will normally lie in the position shown in full lines in Figure 8, there being abutmentv stops 32 and 33 to limit the downward and upward movement'of said hook bars, the downwa d movement of the hook being indicated in dotted lines.

Normally the hook'is up, out of the path of movement of the abutment member 12 of the reciprocating pot 11, as shown in Figure '8, thatthe slide bar will not be engaged .by said member'to operate the stop members.

Tnorder to position the'hook in the path of the abutmentmember 12 at the proper time,in order to release the forward stop mechanisnnl have provided float-controlled means comprising a float-membe rl33 adapted to be immersed in the molten metal within 'the pot, said float member being carriedby a float-carrying arm 3% substantially of bell crank shape, said bell crank link 37 pivoted at 88 on the slidebar.

, parts,

stop members 18 and 19 is pivoted to arms 20,21 respectively, said to be engaged by being pivotally mounted at 36 upon the slide bar 27, the other arm of, the bell crank being adapted to engage a. pivotally mouited Q aid mountedlink has a head or,..act upivotally ating end 39, said head being adapted to en abutment member 12 will engaget-he hook above its critical or predetermined a drop in the level of the liquid in V as the pot reciprocates and will cause'the slide bar 27 to bemoved in the direction of movement of the pot, this movement being transmitted through the levers and links 25 and2 l to the stop members 18 and 19, such an outward movement vof the slidefbars ing surface of the trough and raising the rearstop 19, whereby the end'ingotis released and is allowed to move down the trough, fall into and. through the discharge opening and into the mouth of the pot, the

lowering the front stops'18 below the carry- 7 raised rear stop; 19 preventing/the down-Q ward movement or discharge of anyof the succeeding ingot bars.

A spring 40,

end secured to the slide bar 1 and another (see Figure 2,), having one end tosome stationary part, as for instance" the guide bar 28, causes the slide bar to-be retracted to its normal rearward position when the pull of the abutment member 12' is released from the hookf29 on the'rev-erse'f movement of sald abutment vmember. t This" retraction or backward movement of the slide bar causes the rear stop to be depressed and the forward stops to be raised again whereby the ingot bars may slidedown the trough a distance equal to thevwidth of one of the barsso that the new end ingot now rests against the front stops and is in oper-v V ative posit-ion tofb'e'dis'charged into the. pot 1 when "the forward stops are again released into the 'pot' raises the level 'of the liquid 7 therein so that the float 33 no longer pulls ,on the arm 84' andas the hook arm '29 is weighted at its rear end the hook :is returned into its normal inoperativeposition out of-the path of the abutment member 12' by the pot. The discharge of the ingotfbar';

of thepot whereupon the spring 40' can: ct.

In order to prevent theringot bars from tilting upwardly dueto the'weights ofjthe rest of the ingot bars 'at their rea=r,-I have:

provided a weightrmember 141 having a mates central'roller 42 or the like, said weight member being preferably U-shaped and having arms 43 pivota-llymounted at their free endstothe sides of the trough, the roller of said weight member normally bearing onjtherear edge of the bottom ingot bar. In order to provide limiting stops for both the rise and fall of said weight memher, I have adjustably secured'to said'ann 43 of'the weight member, an angle-iron .44, (see Figures? and 4) ,"one leg of which is positioned beneath the trough so that it engages'said' trough 'on its upward movement. Another stop member 45 is secured to said troughadjacent the angle-iron 44 v to limit it in its downward movement.

If desued, slgnal means may be provided whereby the operator will be notified by said signal whenever the trough becomes empty, said signal means comprising a bell 46,or'the like, mounted on the trough and havinga clapper arm 47, said clapper arm being actuated bythe end 48 of one of they arms 43 whenever'the roller 42 drops, due to there being no ingot passing beneath Of course, it is understood that said signal means may be eithera bell, as shown, or any other suitablesignal means, visible or audible, and'either mechanically or electrically operated.

In order to accommodate various lengths of ingot bars, I have formed'apertures or openings 49 in the'bottom of the trough, said openings being adapted to receive dowel pins5O offiller blocks-'51, as shown in Figures 7 and 12. In this way, the ingot blocks may be of any size and 'will be prevented from tilting in the plane of the through.

As has been previously pointed out, section 2 of thetrough is removable so that access may be had to the pot for cleaning purposes or the like Whenever desired,

simply by releasing the latch 6 and liftingthe discharge end 2 out of its interlocking connection.

In the modification shown in Figures 13,

14 and 15, I have provided another form of rock shaft actuatingmeans, whereby the stop members 18 and 19 may be actuated,

hsaid rock shaft 22 being secured at 53 to .an

arm 52. A float 54 is connected to said arm.

52 at 55, said arm 52 being, of any suitable shape or structure. and, as shown, is made of three legs, rigidly connected together in a triangular formation, said legs comprising an upright 56, horizontal 57, and a connecting leg 58 between the free ends of said legs 56 and 57. In this modification the stops are actuated by the drop and rise of the float, said arm 52 actuating the'rock shaft 22 to accomplish said movement.

Having thus described my invention it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same wlthout said end ingots into said rece'ptacle.--'

departing from'the spirit ofjmy invention; hence I donot wish to be understood as limiting myself to the-exact form, arrangement, construction and 'combinatioir of parts-herein shown and described or uses mentioned. r What I claim as newanddesire tosecure Letters Patentisz 1. In a device "of the character described and, in combination, atrou'gh adapted-to receive a'plurality ofin'gots thereon, means for adjusting .the' inside width of said trough, means for temporarily maintaining the ingots in position on the "trough, and meansjautomatically' operative for successively releasing the'ingots. 2.- In a device of the kind described 'a'nd in combination, a trough adapted to 're- 'ceive afplurality of ingots thereon, s'tops'controlling 'the discharge of saidiingots therefrom, a weight member adapted to bear'on said ingots to prevent the tilting thereof,

and automatically operative fioat con'tro-lled means independent of said weight'member' foractuating said stops to successively release said ingots. Y 1

3. In combination with a receptacle, a trough adapted to receive a plurality of ingots'thereon,- stopsonsaid troughto limit the movement of said ingots thereon, a pivoted weight member adapted to bear on the ingot nearest the discharge end of said trough to prevent the tilting thereof, and

automatically "operative' float-controlled means independent of'said weight member and governed by the level of the'liquid' in said receptacle for'successively releasing 4. In combination, a' trough adapted to receive a series of ingots thereon, front and rear stops for said ingots, a common'roclc shaftcarrying and connecting both of said stops and float-controlled means for actuat-' ing said rock shaft and simultaneously raismg one of sa1d stops and lowering the other to successively release said ingots.

5. In combination, a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid therein, a trough adapted tion.

6. In combination, a reciprocatory receptacleadapted to contain a liquid there-- in,a trough having a discharge end in'com munication therewith and adapted to rece-ive a series of ingots thereonystop means atthe forward side of the end ingot closest float-controlled means controlled by the liquid in said receptacle for positioning a d last m t ned m ans'i the path of said receptacle whereby it maybe engage-cl therewith and actuated thereby, and spring means for retracting said stoproperating mechanism when the level of said liquid is atits predetermined height, V

7. In r combination, a reciproeatory relceptacle adapted to contain liquid therein, an inclined trough having a discharge end in communieation therewith and adapted to receivea plural y 0 ngots; step a s on aid trough to t e front n rear of the lowermost ingot for limiting the movement of the ingots on said trough, re-

c.-ipre a .ing means f r oper ting s St p and .fio e tl olled means o positi ning Said reciprocating means so as to be d1.- regtlyengageable With the reciprocating receptacle. and be operated thereby to release said'lowermost ingoti-nto said receptacle. p i f 4 I 8. In combination, a reciprocating receptacle adapted to contain a liquid'therein, a trough h ving a s h rg end n 'eQmuni eation therewith and adapted to receive a series of ingots thereon, means for releasing said ingots successively whereby they are discharged into said receptacle, said means comprising a float-controlled member governed by the liquid in said receptacle, a hook pivoted to said ingot releasing means and operable bysaid float member to posi;

ation said hook in the path of {said reciproeating receptacle so that it may lie-engaged thereby to operate said ing t releasing means. V

c9. In combination, a reci arocating'reeep tacle adapted to contain liquid therein, an 7 inclined trough having its I discharge end in communication therewith and adapted to" receive a series of ingot bars thereon, stop means on said trough in advance of said in ots to are-vent their free dis'char e into b said receptacle, a reci-proeatory member for operat ng said. stop means, a hook on sa d reciprocating member,.and fioat-rcontrolled 1 ciprocating receptacle so thatit maybe engaged-thereby to reciprocatesaicl reciprocatoi'y stop operating mechanism and snccessively release the endingots into said re- .ce tacle. V

10, In combination with aireci'procating receptacle adapted 'to contain a liqnid an qmeans. ope-ratively cooperating with said ho k to po ition i in the path of d reinclined trough haying i s discharge end in f communication therewith and adaptedto receive a ser es of lngot barstheneonl, floatcontrolled means for releasing said ingot bars successi e y in ecepta le, a

' signed my name in the pr'esenceoi two sub-1 scribing witnesses.

- MTit-nesses J O W. HILL, BERTHA HARTMANN.

to f.

HARRY KRAU BLATT; f 

